Swimming is the opening leg of the triathlon race and many athletes utilize this leg to establish position for the upcoming bike and run events of the competition. Swimming remains the hardest and often most dreaded of the 3 triathlon components for many competitors. For this group of competitors, a race strategy for the swim...
Triathletes have no shortage of aerobic exercise each week as they train for all 3 components of their sport, but often what they leave out is strength training. Strength training has been shown to reduce injury risk and improve performance in swimming, cycling, and running. The impact of this training is most noticeable in the...
In the last couple of weeks we have posted on the impact of strength training on endurance performance. Studies have shown resistance training improves both running and cycling economy leading to faster times. These studies add to our existing knowledge on the importance of endurance athletes balancing their endurance training with strength exercises. The pool...
As we move towards the end of winter many Boulder cyclists are growing tired of the indoor hours on their bicycles. One of the benefits of the winter months for cyclists is the opportunity to introduce strength training into their work out programs. A 2 to 3 day a week, total body strengthening program not...
Money and time are two finite resources affecting us each day. We struggle to meet the demands of family, work, community, and our endurance training. Busy endurance athletes often forgo the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep required for optimal recovery to squeeze in another commitment compared to their team sport peers. The choice to cut...
Winter sports are in full spring in Colorado with many people taking their athletic pursuits outside. Skiing and snowboarding continue to grow in popularity throughout our state among both children and adults. Thankfully, ski helmets have become the norm at our state’s ski areas. These helmets are an essential piece of equipment to reduce the...
“In life there are no guarantees” and this is certainly the case with return to sport after surgical procedures. Unfortunately, the commonly held belief is surgical repairs of muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc. guarantees a return to sport at prior levels of play and competition. The odds of returning to competitive levels of sport can be...
The squat may be one of the best exercises for the development of strength and mobility through the lower quarter of the body. It is often used as the foundation of strength training by both recreational athletes and pro athletes alike. I often use the squat in our Physical Therapy practice with patients recovering from...
As the triathlon off season carries forward into the Spring athletes should be focused on the evaluation, treatment, and/or prevention of last season’s nagging injuries. Specifically, athletes competing in Triathlon should see a reduction in their endurance training and a corresponding increase in weight training. The additional time placed on weight training in the off...
The size of mountain bike wheels has undergone significant changes in the history of the sport. Currently the traditional diameter of 26 inches is being challenged by the more recent 29 inch diameter (29ers). 29ers are 10% larger than 26 inch wheels and have been promoted as being easier to ride for taller riders and...